Scaffolding device.



F. B. JOHNSTON.

SOAFFOLDING DEVICE APPLICATION FILED AUG. 12. 1013 1,127 4%. Patented Feb. 9, 1915.

g 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

WITNESSES:

P. B. JOHNSTON.

SGAFFOLDING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 12,1913.

1. 1 27,45 Patented Feb, 9, 1915.

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1 improved locking I of a scaffolding device safety device shown thereon, Fig. 3 IS a plan -Roselle Fark, in the county of iState of New IYMZQ'K f3. JOHNSTON, 0E ROSELLE PARK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR T0 -EBICAN MEET?! DEVICE COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK:

SGAFFOLDING DEVICE.

alienate.

Specificationof Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 9, 1915.

Application filed August 12, 1913. Serial No. 784,331.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK B. JOHNSTON, a citizen of the United States, residing in Union and Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Scadolding Devices, of which the following a specification.

-This invention relates to improvements in scaffolding devices, and the object of the invention is to provide means whereby the use of scafi'olding devices such as are used in the erection of high buildings, may be made more secure than hitherto, and for this purpose my invention consists of an irg devices, whereby the members or sections composing the platforms are locked together in a secure manner so as to cause the entire platform to be interlocked so that in the event of any single cable breaking, or any part of the scaffolding machine getting out of order, that machine, and that portion of the platform would be supported by the remaining portions of the platform as all these portions of the platform are securely locked together.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 shows a side view of a platform having the hoisting drums thereon, and supported from an outrigger fixed toa portion of the building, the platform having my improyed safety device thereon,- Fig. 2 is a side view with my improved view of a portion of the platformshowing my improved safety device, and Fig. 4 is a side view, partly in vertical-section, of a portion of the platform showing my improved safety device.

Similar reference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the figures of 1 the drawings.

(iii

Referring to the drawings. the building column is indicated by 10, and a cross-beam arranged horizontally is ind cated at 11. To'tbe cross-beam 11 an outrigger 1-2 is secured by cross-piece-la, held in position by nuts 15.

means of a stirrup 13. which has a The outrigger is embraced by straps through the lower end of which a bolt 21,

passes, which bolt also passes through an eye at the upper end of the cable 25. The cable is wound on a drum 26 at one side which a gear-wheel 5 3? engaghd by a' pawl device applied to scaffold,

28 is arranged, and the drum is supported by the shaft 29 in the frame 30 of the scaffolding machine. A loose pulley 31 serves to guide the cable 25. An operating lever 72 pivoted on the drum-shaft and carrying apawl 33 engaging a ratchet-wheel 37 on the drum, serves for manual operation of the latter. The scaffoldingdevice as described is well known and forms no part of this invention. It is customary at the present time mihave the frame 30 of the scaffolding device constructed in U-shape. Cross-beams are supported at their said U-shaped frames, and the planking is supported on the crossbeams, with one end of the planks overlapping the next, as is, for instance, shown in Fig. 2, where one end of the plank overlaps the adjacent end of the next plank 36.

According to the present invention, for supporting the plank-members a cross-beam or putlog 39 is arranged, supported on the frame 30 by bolts 71, and a locking means is provided, whereby the ends of the members 35 and 36 of the platform are securely locked together, so as to prevent the possibility of slipping. For this purpose, above the planking 35, 36, is a cross-beam consisting of two parallel angle-irons 40 and 41, which are joined together by bolts 4-2, which pass through a block 43, the latter of a size in excess of the width of the frame 30, as

shown in Fig.3. The angle-irons l0 and 41 ranged, which has its handle-portion 51 an easy grip, and which. the frame 30 and has a 53 adapted to rest By downward presshapcd so as to give is pivoted at 52 to nose or cam portion against the block 43.

platform, as

ends, each in two of sure on the handle 51, the locking device'50 has its nose or cam 53 pressed against the block 43. The cam thereby forces the angleiron frame 40. ll, downwardly against. the ends of the,nlatfornrmembers indicated by and 36. The clamping of-those members together between the lower'cross-beam 39 and the upper cross-beam 40, d1, serves to bind the platformmemhers throughout the length of the platform. By'th-is arrangement these locked members of the platform act as a suspension device and in the event of any cable of" any particular machine breaking orany machine being out of order, so as to induce its ra id descent, the suspension thus formed, roug'ht about by the locked-ends of the planks, serves to support the entire platform in position and prevents danger to the operatives.

In Fig. 1, the improved locking device is clearly shown as applied to the platform adjacent to which the scaffolding devices or drums arearranged. In this figure is also shown another, lower, platform on which the operatives may work. In this case, the upper platform serves as a roof to the work men operating onthe second or lower plat form, and this roof acts to revent the workmen being injured by falling stone and the like. The lower platform is suspended by rods 61, which have an enlarged upper portion 62, supported by a stirrup 63, which;

stirrup 63 is engaged by a bolt 64 passing through the lower cross'be'am or putlog '39. The members of the lower platform, indicated by 65 and 66, ar'locked in position by a cam device 67 like thedevice 50, and by this interlocking of the members of the platform at their overlapping ends, a very secure platform is obtained." i p I have shown one embodiment of the in motion, but it is clear that changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of theninvention, as defined in the appended claims.

' claimz.

1, in a Seasoningevice, a .platform' having sections with their ends overlapping each other, cross-beams under the over 1 pping ends of the bottom members, aromb ains above the overlapping ends of the top members, cables supporting the said bottom cross-beams, independent and independently -operated hoisting mechanisms for raising and lowering said cables, and means for forcing the bottom and top cross-beams toward each other, and for maintaining them tightl clamped, together.

2. n a scafiolding device, a platform having sections with their ends overlapping each other, cross-beams under the overlapping ends or the bottom members, cross beams above the overlapping ends of the 4. In a scaffolding top members, cables supporting the said a bottom cross-beams, indepehdent and independently operated hoisting mechanisms for raising and lowering said cables, and a cam for forcing said cross-beams toward each other, and for maintaining them tightly I clamped together, said cam being operated by means within the sides of the platform.

forcing the top and bottom cross-beams toward each other for maintaining .them tightly clamped together. I

device, a platform having sections with adjacent ends. cross- ,beams under the adjacent ends of said adjacent sections, cross-beams above the adjacent ends of said adjacent members, frames supporting the bottom cross-beams, cables sup porting said frames, said cross-beams above said sections being connected with and-movable upon said frames, indepbndent and im dependently operated hoisting mechanisms for raising and lowering said-cables, and means connected with said frames for forcing said top and bottom erossbeems toward each other, and for maintaining them tightl clamped together.

. 5 n a scaffolding device, a plurality of spaced lower cross-beams, planks laid across said crossebeams to form sectionsof a continuous platform, spaced upper cross-beams above said lower cross-beams, independent and independently movable cables supporting said lower cross-beams, said upper and lower crossbeams projecting over th'eadjacent ends of the adjacent sections of said platform, and means external to said planks for forcing said upper and lower crossbeams together, and for maintaining them tightly stamped together. c

In testimony, that I claimthe foregoing as my inventionfl have signed my name in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FRANK B, QFQHNSTON.

"Witnesses:

Jo'rm MURTAGH, H. Gosrnn. 

